Can an overweight, unfit 43 yr old do C25K?

[OnTopOfSpaghetti]

Without dying? I need to do something about my lack of fitness. I have done C25k successfully before but this was several years ago and a stone and a half lighter. Is it even worth me starting? I can only really fit in 3 lots of 30 minutes each week and running is ideal because it is free and I don't have to drive anywhere to do it.
A quick google suggests things have moved on in terms of apps etc, are they worth getting? Do you listen on your phone while you run? Should add I am also a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology!
Is there any hope for me? Any advice very gratefully received

My friend did it at 44 and she's looking amazing a year later!

Yes, of course you can!
There are loads of free apps you can download that start off with a 5 minutes walk and then 1 minute or so of running with another walk repeated.
When I started, I felt like I was making no progress, but then it gets better.
Good Luck xx

Yes

YES! I was in just that position five years ago - pretty unfit, overweight, and that exact age. I had never done any running before, and was convinced i would never be able to run 5k. This March I completed a half marathon

Of course you can. The whole thing about C25K is that you can take it at your own pace. So you can repeat weeks if you need to. Get a good pair of trainers.

Yes to apps. And listening on your phone. There is an NHS one.

If you are really unfit you could start by just walking to build your fitness up a bit. Gradually increase your speed till you are doing more distance in the same time. You can use MapMyWalk which tells you your distance and time.

Ooh replies! Thank you! OK, better dust off the running shoes then...
Any recommendations for apps?

trulybadlydeeply wow now that is inspiring! Well done to you. Would love to be in your position in 5 years time.
CiderwithBuda thank you I will have a look at the NHS app. I am not really unfit, I think I could cope with walk/run to start with, I won't know unless I try I guess!

Try the nhs one, it's got good reviews. I've downloaded it but only used it once 😳

Another vote for the NHS ap here (with Sarah Millican's voice - other voices are available but I found her comforting and encouraging!) Am your age, more overweight than you when started in April, and then thought I genuinely might die after 60 seconds running I have completed the programme, took me a bit longer as often I could only get out twice a week, but I'm totally hooked and still going. I love seeing if I can get a bit further each run in the time (not always...) Good luck!

MagicKeysToAsda well done to you as well. Especially for persevering, I know there'll be times when I want to give up. All these stories are inspiring me.

Didn't realise there were different voices on the app! Going to download it now.

And another vote for the NHS app, though I prefer Jo Whiley

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!

Definitely! I@m 49, finished C25K a couple of weeks ago (I had Michael Johnson on my app - v soothing and v encouraging ) having previously not run since secondary school. I just did my first Park Run today and loved it!

I'm ten years a little older than you and have done zero sport or exercise since the days of faking periods at school. I have never run IN MY LIFE and was prepared to die attempting couch to 5k.

I am very proud to say I am on week 5 and not dead yet.

Sanjeev Kholi ismy coach and has a lovely gentle encouraging Scottish lilt.

Thank you for the encouraging replies.
sinkingfeeling excellent! Actually I think that's really brave of you to do a parkrun, its one thing huffing and puffing away by yourself (well that's what I'd be doing anyway) but another step to go and run amongst others. Good for you.
Haffdonga very encouraging to hear that you haven't died yet To be honest I'm a bit rubbish at pushing myself physically but I know I'll feel great once I've done it.

Thank you Spaghetti - I nearly chickened out and made my 13-year-old daughter run with me for moral support. She came in slightly ahead of me but would have been much faster if she hadn't been trying to avoid her PE teacher!

C25k is amazing. It got me running when every single PE lesson failed You can do it from a low fitness base; I was a few months into recovering from pregnancy and post-natal SPD. I would recommend being able to walk briskly for 20 minutes first as that's the time that the initial weeks of walking and bursts of running adds up to.

Music/ apps/ online support all help. There's a great running community out there

Yeah I started with a bmi of 34 and it’s now 28 and I’m running 10ks no issue.

Yep- it’s definitely possible. I’ve completed it twice as an unfit 37 year old and again as a 39 year old. I almost finished it again this year (40) but the weather got too hot so I couldn’t go out, but I’m planning to go running later today. I used the NHS app with Michael Johnson’s voice- he is encouragingly stern!

I've got a Michael Johnston's voice too, he's very stern, no fluffy encouragement from him!
Makes me giggle a bit as I'm chugging running along, as I imagine his face if could actually see me, all red faced, wearing too many layers, shouting at my dog to get her back from chasing rabbits, juggling the dog lead/poo bags, phone sticking out of my bra, with loud garage/dance music on speaker.
He would have a heart attack.
I do run in private where no one can see me for all the reasons above!

Yes, you can. I did it at 49 and overweight. But I found two thinks helped massively taht aren't in C25K programme biut were taught me by a friend who is a PT.
Take tiny tiny steps when running. Run as slowly as you can with the tiniest steps you can between sprints but don't lapse back to walking, as C25K suggests you do. That advice massively helped me build stamina, much more quickly than run/walk/run pacing.

More replies - thank you so much everyone. Really helpful. I am going to need a sports bra - the only one I own fitted me about two dress sizes ago And some trainers - do you think I could get some decent ones from Sports Direct or is it essential to get properly fitted?
NicoandtheNiners amazing progress and great that your bmi has dropped too.
parklives that's made me chuckle! Wish I could run in private, sadly the flattest road near me is very public. I work in a school and I'm sure at least one child will come in saying they've seen me! Ah well better to be out there trying...

Definetely get properly fitted, ideally at an independent shop with gait analysis. If you’re carrying a bit extra weight it’s more stress on knees, etc so you need to give yourself the best shot of being injury free. Good luck.

OK thank you